Unified school board approved a new charter high school, despite the district charter school division’s recommendation that the board deny the application.

Charter schools are publicly funded but can be privately operated, and Westside Innovative School House Inc.

In a 4-2 vote Tuesday (board President Steve Zimmer abstained), the school board decided to let the group open Wish Academy High School under a three-year charter.

The move comes one month after 21 organizations that run charter schools in Los Angeles sent a letter to the board accusing the district of unfair treatment in its approval process. Sign up for the free Essential California newsletter >>

WISH has had dwindling funds since 2011-12 and is financially unprepared to open a high school, the district’s charter division denial recommendation to the school board states.

Shawna Draxton, WISH’s executive director, disputed that in a letter to the board and superintendent. “Since submitting our Petition, WISH has received written confirmation from California Department of Education (CDE) that our application for a $575,000 Public Charter Schools Grant Program start-up grant has qualified for funding, pending charter approval and CDE staff approval of the grant application budget,” the letter reads.

WISH asserts that the L.A.